Ms. Magazine is still gathering signatures for its "I Had an Abortion" petition. Remember, even if you don't sign this petition, if you have an unwanted pregnancy, you are not alone. Whether you choose to continue the pregnancy, abort or adopt out, there are a lot of resources for you.

Also, remember the woman who couldn't get ECP? Well, she'spregnant. I am pretty sure she lives in Ohio, and as someone who used to be in the pro-choice community there, I'm glad to say I know that there are safe and wonderful clinics. I also know that abortions are not free. And she will have to walk by the protestors, maybe twice because Ohio has a 24 hour waiting period law. And she will have to have her cervix dialated, and then it will contract, and she will have cramps, and can't have sex, and will have to take antibiotics, no matter if she takes RU-486 (medication abortion) or goes the surgical route. And, she'll have to find a clinic and get there and take time off of work and maybe arrange for child care of sick leave and possibly have to bring in a doctor's note to work.

So I'm no lawyer. Not officially, I think. But if I was, I might think about a legal strategy. I might think about a civil suit, and it would be based on the standard of care for dispensing EC. I don't believe it's been established, which was one of my concerns with the DoJ NOT saying that rape victims should be given EC, but jeez, I mean if you were willing to be a test case? And the ACLU or PP or someone was willing to take this on? It could be groundbreaking. Or heartbreaking.

And speaking of consequences of sex, there's a big fancy party here in DC for condoms! The idea was spurred by the US cuttingfunding to the UNFPA. Anyway, this group is all about distributing condoms. And I'll keep you updated on how things go. Oh, and speaking of distributing condoms, I'm still working on the Elexa thing. I will keep you updated, of course.

Yesterday's Post had a large story on how Spain is moving away from its traditional machismo towards a more feminist Spain. Much of the new policies center on women's market participation, which goes hand in hand with decreased & delayed fertility (generally, educated women have a higher opportunity cost for having children). Further, the military is opening up child care centers for mothers who are in the military, and Spain has passed laws about men helping out with housework.

Spain's abortion laws have recently been liberalized as well; CRLP reports that abortion is allowed for the woman's mental health, in cases of rape & fetal impairment. Abortion rates are rising, although I believe some of these abortions are probably from women who are citizens of other European countries. Of course, many women who have abortions in Spain are Spanish - women who do not have access to comprehensive sex ed, and have only temporary work.

Saletan argues that the anti-choicers should be pro-contraception. He reminds us that many, including NARAL and Hillary have said that abortion is tragic, which, personally, I think is controversial. And, frankly, that's how a lot of you have come here. Abortion is not always tragic, but I imagine that preventing conception is preferable to termination.